-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 W002e6yg1UGsihjPwdQxpqQ20nhNCKJ17ia+b+pJIbUHmWSWkYeK3gzsxik3o2PI
 AejjrlahAqLGTNtedA9okA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001179022-03-000197.txt : 20030716
<SEC-HEADER>0001179022-03-000197.hdr.sgml : 20030716
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030716144434
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001179022-03-000197
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030714
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030716

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PAIGE STEPHEN B
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001254363

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-15669
		FILM NUMBER:		03789062

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3 HUNTINGTON QUADRANGLE 25
		CITY:			MELVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11747
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6315017000

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			GENTIVA HEALTH SERVICES INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001096142
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	SERVICES-HEALTH SERVICES [8000]
		IRS NUMBER:				364335801
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3 HUNTINGTON QUADRANGLE 2S
		CITY:			MELVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11747-8943
		BUSINESS PHONE:		6315017000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		3 HUNTINGTON QUADRANGLE 2S
		CITY:			MELVILLE
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			11747-8943

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	OLSTEN HEALTH SERVICES HOLDING CORP
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19991001
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-07-14</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001096142</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>GENTIVA HEALTH SERVICES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>GTIV</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001254363</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>PAIGE STEPHEN B</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>0</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>VP, General Counsel</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><derivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Employee Stock Options (right to buy)</value></securityTitle><conversionOrExercisePrice><value>9.625</value></conversionOrExercisePrice><transactionDate><value>2003-07-14</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>40000</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>0</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><exerciseDate><value>1988-08-08</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></exerciseDate><expirationDate><value>2013-07-14</value></expirationDate><underlyingSecurity><underlyingSecurityTitle><value
>common stock</value></underlyingSecurityTitle><underlyingSecurityShares><value>40000</value></underlyingSecurityShares></underlyingSecurity><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>40000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></derivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">The options vest 50% after two years, 75% after three years and 100% after four years.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Phillip A. Bradley</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-07-16</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----